Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

House of Pain Jump Around Australia

Old school hip hop outfit House of Pain have announced a string of sideshows in addition to their Groovin the Moo appearances. The dates are part of the band’s 20th anniversary world tour.

This tour is pretty exciting for fans, as it’s the first time they’ve played on Aussie soil since getting back together in 2010. I’m impressed that they’re heading our way so soon after that reunion.

Prepare to do plenty of jumping around at the following shows. Tickets go on sale from the venues on February 21.

29 April 2011 – Prince of Wales, Melbourne
2 May 2011 – The Hi-Fi Bar, Brisbane
6 May 2011 – Manning Bar, Sydney

Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Drawn From Bees Take on North America

Like many Aussies I wasn’t familiar with the music of Drawn from Bees, but this Brisbane band is making some real waves in North America with dates approaching at Canadian Music Week and South by Southwest.

Their EP Cautionary Tales for the Lionhearted will get an American release on March 1, which is sure to elevate their profile here and abroad. I gave the recording a few spins this afternoon and found it to be really mature, sophisticated stuff. The band harmonizes beautifully, and creates an amazing atmosphere which reminds me of Radiohead without the slit-your-wrists factor. While there’s certainly some darkness here, it never feels as gloomy and labored as the music the British band typically produced. The jangly guitars and rich melodies give these songs a warmth that elevates them out of the doldrums. I particularly loved “Stand Against the Storm,” which has shades of Talking Heads to it, and “Picture Show,” which builds so beautifully to a stirring crescendo.

Tunes from the EP and a few extras are available through Drawn From Bees’ MySpace page. If you like what you hear, make sure you check out what the band can do in the flesh at the following shows here and abroad!

18 February 2011 – 34B (above Spectrum), Sydney
5 March 2011 – The Manhattan Room, Philadelphia
6 March 2011 – Howlers, Pittsburgh
7 March 2011 – Euclid Tavern, Cleveland
8 March 2011 – Pearl St Grill, Buffalo
10 March 2011 – Canadian Music Week @ Bread & Circus, Toronto
12 March 2011 – Canadian Music Week @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
13 March 2011 – Aussie BBQ @ Bowery Ballroom, New York
15 March 2011 – Cactus Instore, Houston
16 March 2011 – SXSW Party @ International Psych-Out, Austin
16 March 2011 – SXSW Party @ Aussie’s Bar & Grill, Austin
17 March 2011 – SXSW Party @ Dart International Music House, Austin
20 March 2011 – Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, Houston
21 March 2011 – Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago
22 March 2011 – Elbo Room, Chicago
24 March 2011 – Hennessey’s Hooley House, Boston
25 March 2011 – Hank’s Saloon, Brooklyn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Seabellies Announce Summer Single Tour

With their nautical name and groovy pop single “Board the Apartment Up” at radio, the Seabellies might just be the perfect summer band.

They’re celebrating the season, and the release of their final single from By Limbo Lake, by playing shows down the East Coast by way of Adelaide. The gigs will showcase the songs from that debut record and some new material written during a month long residency in Melbourne. They’ll lay those tunes down soon, but these shows give you the opportunity to hear them before anyone else.

Seabellies are quickly earning a reputation as one of Australia’s must see live acts. Come see why at the following shows.

12 February 2011 – Good Vibrations Festival, Sydney
24 February 2011 – ASP Surfing Awards, Gold Coast
26 February 2011 – Globe Theatre, Brisbane
3 March 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
5 March 2011 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
11 March 2011 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
12 March 2011 – Beachcomber, Toukley
17 March 2011 – Gaelic Theatre, Sydney
18 March 2011 – Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
20 March 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla

Image used with permission from Albert Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Dingoes Say Goodbye with Live Album and Shows

The Dingoes were one of the greatest bands of the 1970s, giving Australia hits like “Way Out West” and “Boy On the Run.” After their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009, Brod Smith, Kerryn Tolhurst, Chris Stockley, and John Bois figured it was about time to get the band back together.

They recorded another studio album and travelled all around the country last August. During that tour The Dingoes recorded a live CD at their Northwood Hotel and Northcote Social Club shows, and it’s finally been released. Live At Last captures a band at home on the stage with a repertoire finely tuned after decades in the business. There’s everything you could hope to hear on this double CD, and a few other tracks besides.

Sadly we’re hearing that the dates they’ve announced are the last ones, the final chapter of The Dingoes legacy. These shows include A Day on the Green slots with Joe Cocker and George Thorogood, festival appearances, and headline dates. Yes we’ve heard it’s the end before, but if you’re a fan I’d get to a few of these gigs just in case.

12 February 2011 – A Day On The Green @ Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley (with Joe Cocker, George Thorogood, and Diesel)
13 February 2011 – A Day On The Green @ Centennial Vineyards, Bowral (with Joe Cocker, George Thorogood, and Diesel)
19  February 2011 – A Day On The Green @ Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth (with Joe Cocker, George Thorogood, and Diesel)
10 March 2011 – Stones Winery, Yarra Valley
12 & 13 March 2011 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
1 April 2011 – Prince of Wales, St Kilda
2 April 2011 – Caravan Music Club @ Oakleigh RSL, Oakleigh
3 April 2011 – The Williamstown RSL, Williamstown
22 April 2011 – East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Tyagarah

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australia Can’t Smile Without Barry

April’s a notoriously busy month for me. We have Easter, the birthdays of four out of the five members of my immediate family, and at last count, I had two concerts lined up. So it was with a heavy heart that I passed on Barry Manilow’s upcoming tour.

While the hearts of Barry fans all over the country are breaking, I’m starting to feel like I might have a second chance. It’s been announced that those April shows aren’t happening, although some in future might be.

According to promoter Paul Dainty the whole thing is “presently under discussion,” which means it may be happening and it may not be. After the Huey Lewis tour fell through, I won’t be holding my breath.

Fans can hang onto that hope and their tickets until we know a bit more about this tour’s future, or simply return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Image source: Matt Becker @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Calling All Cars Support Queens of the Stone Age

Way to go Calling All Cars! The Melbourne rockers have been handpicked to support Queens of the Stone Age on their Soundwave sideshows.

Clearly big name acts are seeing something special in our boys. AC/DC picked Calling All Cars as their support act last year, and now they’ve earned a place on another red hot show.

Make sure you turn up early at the gigs, March 2 at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre and March 3 at Melbourne’s Palace, to see Calling All Cars in action. They’re promising to play a few new tunes from their forthcoming second album, so their sets should be something pretty special!

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Art Tours Here Comes the War

The Art have had one hell of a 2010, punctuated with time recording and touring in US, and support slots with big names like Marilyn Manson, Them Crooked Vultures, and The Pixies.

Their self titled EP exploded, and they’ll be hoping for similar success with their new album Here Comes the War. It drops on February 24, and the band will celebrate with a tour taking in the eastern states and Adelaide.

The Art are one of this country’s most mesmerising live acts; see how they earned that reputation at the following gigs.

23 February 2011 – Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
25 February 2011 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney (album launch)
26 February 2011 – Cabbage Tree, Wollongong
2 March 2011 – The Lennox, Byron Bay
3 March 2011 – Club Envy, Sunshine Coast
4 March 2011 – Elsewhere, Gold Coast
5 March 2011 – X & Y, Brisbane
9 March 2011 – ANU, Canberra
10 March 2011 – The National, Geelong
11 March 2011 – Enigma, Adelaide
12 March 2011 – Instore, Melbourne
13 March 2011 – Dong Dong Lounge, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Hummingbird PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Cat Empire Announces 10th Anniversary Tour

How time flies when you’re having fun. It seems The Cat Empire has been keeping us smiling with their brass soaked jazz tinged tunes for ten years now, and they’re celebrating the milestone with a tour.

It’s a diverse string of dates, with slots at festivals and appearances at some intimate jazz clubs and larger theatres. The band hasn’t played at some of these smaller bars in years, so they’re definitely going to be the pick of the dates.

Tickets to the shows go on sale on February 14. Yes folks, they could make a pretty nifty Valentine’s Day gift if the big day’s slipped your mind!

17April 2011 – West Coast Blues ‘N’ Roots Festival, Fremantle WA
24 April 2011 – Byron Bay Blues Fest, Byron Bay NSW
28 April 2011 – The Crown And Sceptre, Adelaide
29 April 2011 – The Jive, Adelaide
30 April 2011 – The Thebarton, Adelaide
4 May 2011 – Bennetts Lane, Melbourne
5 May 2011 – The Night Cat, Melbourne
6 May 2011 – The Palace, Melbourne
7 May 2011 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
8 May 2011 – Prince Band Room, Melbourne
12 May 2011 – The Annandale, Sydney
13 May 2011 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
14 May 2011 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
15 May 2011 – The Basement, Sydney

Image source: Fiona Steele @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Sydney’s Strangers

Sydney quintet Strangers aren’t likely to be strangers for much longer. The band has spent the last three months recording their rocking debut album, and they’re getting ready to unleash it on the country.

Strangers will play their first ever headline show at Sydney’s Spectrum next Saturday, in amongst support slots with the mighty Shihad. The current crop of dates will support “Red Brick,” the first single released from the album. The first Shihad show is tonight, so music lovers in The Gong should get their skates on!

Strangers

3 February 2011 – Waves, Wollongong (with Shihad)
4 February 2011 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (with Shihad)
5 February 2011 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (with Shihad)
12 February 2011 – Spectrum, Darlinghurst (headline show)
18 February 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (with Shihad)
19 February 2011 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully (with Shihad)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

78 Saab Tour “Warm Jets”

78 Saab are preparing to travel around the country in support of their new single “Warm Jets.”

The track, which comes from the band’s most recent album Good Fortune, gets a digital release on February 11. It’s described as engaging and hugely dynamic, with a radio-friendly chorus and brooding verses. Sounds like fun!

There aren’t many of dates, but 78 Saab will cover a lot of territory on this tour. See them at the following venues in March and April.

5 March 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
12 March 2011 – Northern Star, Newcastle
2 April 2011 – Gaelic Club, Sydney
28 April 2011 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
29 April 2011 – Mojos, Fremantle
30 April 2011 – The Bird, Perth